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Does OSU Have a Case

Michael Emmett

Senior Writer, Fantrax

Oklahoma State is not being considered for the national championship because it only beat Stanford in overtime – but I contend this team should be considered.

Are the 12-1 Cowboys national title-worthy in the eyes of the AP voters who hold the power? On the heels of their riveting 41-38 victory over Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl, the Cowboys can at least contend they would be a strong option for free-thinking Associated Press Poll voters if — and it's a strong if — Alabama somehow knocks off No. 1-ranked LSU tonight in the Mulligan Bowl sometimes referred to as the BCS title game.This game is a do-over that should never be happening.

College football needs a playoff in the worst way and this re-match is ridiculous – even if these two teams are the best in the business. And unfortunately, we’ll never know for sure if this is the case. Why is it that in most years we are given 3 teams worthy of a title shot – yet, we have to pick two?

Does anybody remember undefeated Auburn (13-0, undfeated in the SEC) not get a chance to prove itself on the field in 2004? OSU would have a chance against either team – but as luck would have it –they won’t get a chance to show it.Should LSU win the rematch of its regular-season clash against Alabama — and it says here it is patently unfair that the Tigers even have to — Les Miles' team will hold the crystal trophy aloft in the Superdome with no questions asked. But if Nick Saban's team pulls off the mild upset in New Orleans, it will set off all forms of protests. And Oklahoma State would be at the front of the line to make its case.

Here are my reasons OSU should be considered:

Like LSU and Alabama, OSU would have only one loss.
Like the victorious Tide and unlike LSU, OSU would have won its BCS bowl game.
Like LSU and unlike Alabama, OSU was its conference's champion.
Like LSU and Alabama, OSU has one half of an outstanding football team, boasting an impressive offense that struck for 400 yards through the air and a yard shy of 4 touchdown passes from its quarterback against a very qualified, 11-win Cardinal team.
The BCS computers had the Big 12 conference ranked #1. OSU was conference champions for the top rated division – losing just once – surely, this is good enough to be considered #1 in the land when the final polls are released.

I'll take issue with the Fiesta Bowl commentators who said OSU didn't win in dominating enough fashion to merit strong consideration as a national champion. Since when did that become a requirement?

Remember 9-6 LSU, anyone? The object is to win the game, and nothing more should be necessary in a match-up between such high-caliber teams.

I realize some have already pointed to Oklahoma State's road loss at Iowa State as a variable that should disqualify the Big 12 champion. That's another serious consideration, but the flip side of that argument is that the Southeastern Conference has never been this top-heavy, its current 5-2 bowl record with an overtime loss notwithstanding. The Big 12, clearly the top conference in college football this season with six winners in eight bowl games, was a much better league than the SEC, top to rock bottom.Sure, Kansas was as bad as they come, but is Ole Miss any better? Do Tennessee and Kentucky really scare anybody? Vanderbilt?

The bottom of the SEC is a disaster – and this is why the brain trusts who handle the BCS computer portion of the rankings have ranked the Big 12 #1.Oklahoma State beat 'em all except for Paul Rhoads' Cyclones, falling on a field goal that missed by inches. Defenses win championships, but offenses can, too.

There might be some who think split champions would provide an impetus for a playoff. They could lead to a plus-one format, which I don't like, even though it beats the alternative. It just doesn't make any sense in seasons with clear champions like 2005 with Texas and, well, this one if LSU prevails.But if LSU doesn't win, let the arguments begin. Mike Gundy, be ready. I love confusion, and chaos, for that reason alone – Go Tide.

Email Michael Emmett at: memmett@mayfairclubs.com

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Michael Emmett Jan 10, 2012 2:42:03 PM EST

Mr Dean: Getting nasty with the eggnog comment aren't we? Anyway, you too make many valid points about Bama and LSU being the best in the nation - and i agree with you. However, sometimes it's not always about being the best on paper - it's about the resume. And i feel top to bottom the Big 12 would beat the SEC. But let's be honest, yesterday's game was brutal. A rematch in this silly BCS system should not be allowed. Round 2 never lives up to the expectations. Hell, we witnessed 8 quarters from these two stellar teams and we saw ONE touchdown. Talk about brutal Offenses. How is it possible that LSU didn't cross midfield once - this is f------ pathetic. You can't tell me that OSU would have suffered a similar fate. Yes, both Bama and LSU have great defenses - but their offense isn't even close to what OSU has to offer. In this day and age it's not always about great defenses - great offenses can win championships too. If you are picking two teams to play for a National championship - one of the pre-requisites to participate should be you must have won your conference championship. An LSU vs. OSU would have been a more memorable event. One great offense vs. One great defense. Maybe after what we witnessed last night it should have been Bama vs. OSU. But based on LSU's perfect record prior to last night this would have been impossible. Bama looked great last night but they beat a limp, unprepared team. Waiting 5 weeks to play this game is non-sensical and ridiculous. OSU was prepared and they would have put up a great fight against either SEC giant. But unfortunately, we'll never know - cause the system sucks. The SEC is a great conference - no doubt! But they get too much credit and this is why we were stuck with the Mulligan Bowl. If it was to me - rematches for national championships would be outlawed. End of story.

Joseph Dean Jan 9, 2012 5:49:37 PM EST

Two weeks after Christmas, and I see my friend is still hitting the eggnog pretty hard. While you make a compelling argument for OSU, the fact still remains that this year's editions of LSU and Alabama are perhaps the two best teams to play college football in the past 30 years. No playoff is needed when you CLEARLY have 2 teams better than anyone else in the country. OSU (and the rest of the field) are not anywhere close to the level of these two teams. OSU lost to a 4 touchdown underdog. Good teams don't lose to 4 touchdown underdogs. No way they should even be MENTIONED as a potential championship team. OSU is just not a good team, at least when compared to the elite LSU and Alabama teams. OSU lost to a team that got embarrassed by Rutgers in their Bowl. OSU got lucky to win their Bowl game because of a missed FG that would have given Stanford the win in regulation. The lone Big 12-SEC matchup of the Bowl season saw KState lose by double digits to Arkansas. The Big 12 has a long, long way to go to get to the level of the SEC. Racking up points in a conference that doesn't play defense is fun to watch, but it's not real football. It is indeed the Clash of the Titans tonight. Real football. Big Boy football. Alabama outplayed LSU in the first game, but fell short on the scoreboard in OT. Here's hoping the better team wins the game tonight. --Roll Tide

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